Pneumatic digital positioning means

ABSTRACT

A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED ACTUATORS DISPOSED IN ALIGNED AND ABUTTING RELATION TO PROVIDE A LINEAR POSITIONING UNIT HAVING OPPOSED ENDS WITH EACH ACTUATOR BEING INDIVIDUALLY OPERABLE TO LINEARLY EXTEND ITSELF WHEN ACTUATED AND THEREAFTER TO LINEARLY COLLAPSE ITSELF WHEN DEACTUATED WHEREBY ONE END OF THE UNIT WILL BE CORRESPONDINGLY LINEARLY EXTENDED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER END THEREOF AND THEREAFTER BE LINEARLY COLLAPSED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER END THEREOF. A CONTROL DEVICE BEING OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO THE ONE END OF THE POSITIONING UNIT TO BE CONTROLLED IN RELATION TO THE POSITION OF THE ONE END RELATIVE TO THE OTHER END THEREOF AND CONTROL   MEANS FOR DIRECTING A SOURCE OF PNEUMATIC FLUID TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE ACTATORS TO EXTEND THE ONE END OF THE UNIT BY THE DEGREE OF ACTUATION OF THE ONE ACTUATOR AND FOR THEREAFTER DISCONNECTING THE SOURCE FROM THAT ONE ACTUATOR TO COLLAPSE THE ONE END OF THE UNIT BY THE DEGREE OF DEACTUATION OF THE ONE ACTUATOR.

Sept. 20, 1971 M. PUSTER 7- PNEUMATIC DIGITAL POSITIONING MEANS Filed Oct. 9, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 49 I3 IO I I I I '5 37 [L F l G2 I INVENTOR LOUIS M. PusfER M, 6% ram HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 L. PUSTER PNEUMATIC DIGITAL POSITIONING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1969 w Q 7 9 m 5 3 6 3 J M i 3 3 A 4. 4 W 7/ A M V M. .H a ..lH| 7 Q v 11/ I w\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 7// 7// N p I I FIG.3

HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 PUSTER 3,605,557

PNEUMATIC DIGITAL IOSITIONING MEANS Filed Oct. 9, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 B\ l INVENTOR.

LOUIS M. PUSTER 50 I07 Y I V M, M i 7 88 6 HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 L, M, TE R 3,605,557

Punumnp DIGITAL rosmi onme MEANS Filed Oct. 9, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LOUlS M. PUSTER Hrs ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,605,557 PNEUMATIC DIGITAL POSITIONING MEANS Louis M. Puster, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va. Filed Oct. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 865,040 Int. Cl. F01b 31/00; F15b 11/18, 15/22 US. Cl. 91--167 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of separate pneumatically operated actuators disposed in aligned and abutting relation to provide a linear positioning unit having opposed ends with each actuator being individually operable to linearly extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby one end of the unit will be correspondingly linearly extended relative to the other end thereof and thereafter be linearly collapsed relative to the other end thereof. A control device being operatively interconnected to the one end of the positioning unit to be controlled in relation to the position of the one end relative to the other end thereof and control means for directing a source of pneumatic fluid to at least one of the actuators to extend the one end of the unit by the degree of actuation of the one actuator and for thereafter disconnecting the source from that one actuator to collapse the one end of the unit by the degree of deactuation of the one actuator.

This invention relates to an improved pneumatically operated apparatus for positioning a controlled device in desired positions thereof, this invention also relating to an improved method and control system utilizing such a positioning apparatus or the like.

It is well known that various pneumatically operated positioning devices have been provided wherein a controlled device has its operating condition changed in proportion to the degree of actuation of one or more pneumatically operated actuators forming part of the positioning apparatus.

It is a feature of this invention to provide an improved pneumatically operated positioning apparatus of the above type.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a tubular housing member having a plurality of separate pneumaticelly operated actuators disposed in aligned and abutting relation in a tubular housing to provide a linear positioning unit having opposed ends, each actuator being individually operable to readily extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby one end of the unit will be correspondingly linearly extended relative to the other end thereof and thereafter be linearly collapsed relative to the other end thereof. A control device is operatively interconnected to the one end of the positioning unit to be controlled in relation to the position of the one end of the unit relative to the other end thereof. A source of pneumatic fluid is directed to a control means which comprises individual solenoid operated valves for each of the pneumatically operated actuators whereby when one of the solenoid operated valves directs the pneumatic source to its respective actuator to extend the one end of the unit by the degree of actuation of that one actuator, the control de-w'ce is proportionally adjusted.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved pneumatically operated positioning apparatus having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for controlling a control device, the

method of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pneuatic digital positioning control system utilizing such pneumatically operated positioning apparatus or the like, the control system of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in cross section, illustrating the improved pneumatically operated positioning apparatus and control system of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portion of the positioning apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating certain of the pneumatically operated actuators thereof in actuated condition.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective viaw of one of the improved pneumatically operated actuators of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the parts forming the pneumatic actuator of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the solenoid operated valve means for the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the solenoid operated valve of FIG. 6 and is taken on line 7-7 thereof.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatically operated actuator of FIG. 4 and is taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to control a set point indicator and its controlling device, such as for a textile control system or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide positioning means for other devices as desired, such as for positioning a valve, pressure regulator or other similar devices, individually or collectively.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. I

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the improved pneumatically operated positioning apparatus and control system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a frame means 11 carrying a device 12 that is adapted to have its output varied in relation to the position of an actuator rod 13 relative to the frame 11, the actuator rod 13 being suitably coupled to an indicating pointer 14 which indicates to the viewer the position of the actuator rod 13 and, thus, the set output function of the control device 12.

A cylindrical housing means 15 is secured to the frame means 11 in any suitable manner, such as by brackets 16 respectively at the opposed ends 17 and 18 of the cylinder 15. The opposed ends 17 and 18 of the cylinder 15 are respectively closed by end closure caps 19 and 20 held thereon in plug fashion by threaded retainers 21 respectively threaded to the externally threaded ends 17 and 18 of the cylinder 15, the end closures 19 and 20 respectively having externally threaded extension projecting through suitable openings in the brackets 16 to receive nuts 22 to thereby fasten the sleeve or cylinder 15 to the frame means 11.

A plurality of separate pneumatically operated actuators 23 are respectively disposed in stacked aligned relation in the cylinder 15 with the bottom actuator 23 resting against the lower end cap 20 whereby such actuators 3 23 are disposed in aligned abutting relation to provide a linear positioning unit, generally indicated by the reference numeral 24, in the cylinder with the positioning unit 24 having opposed ends 25 and 26.

A dash-pot means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 27 in FIG. I, is also disposed in the cylinder or housing means 15 and comprises a piston 28 and cooperating cylinder 29 with the cylinder 29 being movable in the housing 15 and having its lower end 30 abutting against the upper end 25 of the positioning unit 24. The piston 28 is held stationary relative to the cylinder 29 and has a stem 31 projecting out of the upper end 32 of the cylinder 29 and is threadedly interconnected tothe upper end cap 19 of the housing means 15 whereby the position of the piston 28 can be adjusted relative to the housing means 15, if desired.

The cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27 is filled with a suitable dampening fluid, such as silicone, so as to provide means for cushioning linear movement of the positioning unit 24 in the housing means 15 to the actuator rod 13 of the control device 12. as will be apparent hereinafter, the dash-pot means 27 operatively interconnecting the positioning unit 24 to the actuating rod 13 of the control device 12 by suitable linkage means 33.

In particular, the upper end 32 of the cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27 has an arm 34 fastened therethrough and projecting out through a slot 35 in the housing means 15 so as to be disposed in engagement with a pin 36 transversely carried by a pivotally mounted lever 37 which is interconnected through linkage means 36, 39 and 40 to the actuator rod 13 and set point indicator 14 so that upward and downward movement of the arm 34 of the dash-pot means 27 will cause correspondingly down ward and upward movement of the actuating rod 13 as will be apparent hereinafter. In order to maintain the pin 36 of the lever 37 in engagement against the arm 34 of the dash-pot means 27, a suitable tension spring 41 is provided and has one end 42 interconnected to the link 38 and the other end 43 thereof interconected to the upper bracket 16.

Since the actuators 23 of the positioning unit 24 are separate from each other, as well as from the dash-pot means 27 in the housing means 15, another tension spring 44 is provided and has one end 45 interconnected to the arm 34 and the other end 46 thereof interconnected to the lower bracket 16 whereby the force of the tension spring 44 normally tends to maintain all of the actuators 23 in their collapsed and deactuated condition and with the cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27 in engagement with the upper end 25 of the positioning unit 24.

Each actuator 23 of the positioning unit 24 is adapted to be individually operable to linearly extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby the upper end 25 of the positioning unit 24 will be correspondingly linearly extended in an upward direction and thereafter be linearly collapsed in a downward direction depending upon the degree of actuation of the particular actuator 23 and the degree of deactuation thereof. Since such upward and downward movement of the upper end 25 of the positioning unit 24 operates to correspondingly move the cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27, the dampening fluid in the cylinder 29 serves to dampen such movement of the upper end 25 of the positioning unit 24 to the actuating rod 13 of the control device 12 so that the control device 12 is slowly changed and thereby does not have sudden overshoots or undershoots, the pin 36 sliding on the arm 34 of the cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27 so as to permit clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the lever 37 depending upon downward or upward movement of the end 25 of the positioning unit 24.

A plurality of electrically operated valve means 47 are respectively secured to the frame means 11 with one valve means 47 being provided for each pneumatically operated actuator 23 which, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises nine valve means 47 and nine pneumatically operated actuators 23. Each valve means 47 is operativcly interconnected to a pneumatic source 48 in a manner hereinafter described and is adapted, when actuated, to direct the pneumatic source 48 to its respective actuator 23 by an outlet conduit means 49 so as to linearly extend or actuate that actuator 23. Thereafter, that particular valve means 47 can disconnect the pneumatic source 48 from its respective actuator 23 while interconnecting the atmosphere thereto so as to deactuate its particular actuator 23 whereby the same will linearly collapse under the force of the tension spring 44.

Each valve means 47, when deenergized, prevents communication between the pneumatic source 48 and its respective actuator 23 while interconnecting its respective actuator 23 to the atmosphere. However, when the respective valve means 47 is energized, the same disconnects the atmosphere from its respective actuator 23 and interconnects the pneumatic source 48 thereto.

Each valve means 47 has a pair of terminals 50 and 51, with the terminals 50 of the valve means 47 being respectively interconnected to an electrical lead 52 that is interconnected to a power source line L The other terminal 51 of each valve means 47 is interconnected to respective leads 53 which are adapted to be selectively, collectively or in any combination thereof interconnected to the other power source lead L by a suitable control means 54, such as a computer, tape or card reader, etc., so as to control the operation of the control device 12 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

Each pneumatically operated actuator 23 can be formed in a like manner and the details of one such pneumatically operated actuator 23 will now be described and reference is made to FIGS. 4, 5 and 8.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, the actuator 23 comprises two cup-shaped housing members 55 and 56 formed in cylindrical form and respectively having open ends 57 and 58, the open end 58 of the cup-shaped housing member 56 being inwardly ofifset and being externally threaded at 59 so as to be threaded to the internal threaded portion 60 of the other cup-shaped housing member 55 whereby the thus interconnected cup-shaped housing members 55 and 56 define a cylinder means 61 having a transverse cross-sectional configuration closely resembling the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the inside of the cylinder or housing means 15 so as to be dispsoed in closed relation to the internal peripheral surface of the housing means 15 while permitting movement therebetween for the aforementioned linear expansion and contraction of the positioning unit 24. A piston member 62 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 63 disposed in the open end 58 of the cup-shaped member 56 and has an annular groove 64 receiving an annular O-ring 65 for sealing against the internal peripheral surface 66 of the housing member 56 while permitting axial movement of the piston member 62 relative thereto. The piston member 62 has its lower surface 166 interrupted by a cavity 67 to cooperate with the housing member 56 to define a chamber 68 therebetween.

In addition, the lower surface 166 of the piston member 62 is beveled at 69 at the corner thereof so as to be in fluid communication with a transverse passage means 70 formed radially through the cup-shaped housing member 56 and being interconnected to a tubular insert 71 that is adapted to be interconnected to the respective conduit means 49 of a respective valve means 47 for permitting the pneumatic source 48 to be directed to the cavity 68 of the actuator 23 or for interconnecting the atmosphere thereto. I

The piston member 62 includes a reduced portion 72 cooperating with the large portion 63 to define an annular shoulder 73 for abutting against the inside surface 74 of the closed end 75 of the upper cup-shaped housing member 55 so as to limit upward movement of the piston member 62 when the actuator 23 is interconnected to the pneumatic source, the reduced portion 72 of the piston member 62 projecting out through a suitable opening 76 in the closed end 75 of the cup-shaped housing member 55 so as to have its flat end 77 for engaging against the cylinder means 61 of the actuator 23 above the same in the positioning unit 24.

By providing the threaded relation 59 and 60 between the cup-shaped housing members 55 and 56, the stroke or linear distance that the piston member 62 can travel in an upward direction in FIG. 8 when having its cavity 68 interconnected to the pneumatic source 48 can be readily adjusted and once adjusted to the desired position, suitable set screws 78 can be tightened to hold the cupshaped housing members 55 and 56in the desired adjusted threaded relation therebetween.

Therefore. it can be seen that each actuator 23 can have a different stroke setting than the other actuators 23 as determined by the particular threaded relation between the two cup-shaped housing members 55 and 56 thereof which define the cylinder means 61 thereof. Therefore, with pressure applied to the tubing 71 of a particular actuator 23, the piston member 62 moves up until the shoulder 73 thereof strikes against the end 75 of the housing member 55 and when the cavity 68 thereof is interconnected to the atmosphere and a load is applied to the piston member 62 thereof, such as by the tension spring 44 of FIG. 1, the piston 62 is driven downwardly until the same bottoms against the closed end 79 of the lower cup-shaped housing member 56.

Thus, it can be seen that each pneumatically operated actuator 23 of this invention can be formed of relatively simple and inexpensive parts to be assembled together in a simple and eifective manner to permit separate adjustment of the stroke thereof and can be disposed in the housing means 15 to provide the positioning unit 24, the housing means 15 having another slot 80 in the side thereof and out through which the tubing 71 of the actuators 23 can project to not only permit axial movement of the actuators 23 in the housing means 15, but also to guide the same in the housing means 15 and prevent rotational movement therein.

The valve means 47 for the apparatus of this invention are identical and one such valve means 47 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each valve means 47 comprises a two-piece bracket 81 with the lower part 82 thereof carrying a housing means 83 supporting a solenoid coil 84 having its opposed ends respectively interconnected to the terminals 50 and 51, the coil 84 having core means 85 for attracting an armature or clapper 86 pivotally mounted to the bracket means 81 in any suitable manner at a point 87 intermediate its opposed ends 88 and 89. The armature or clapper 86 is normally urged to the position illustrated in FIG. 7 by a tension spring 90 having one end 91 interconnected to the end 89 of the armature 86 and the other end 92 interconnected to the bracket means 81. An opening 93 passes through the armature 86 and is covered at its lower end by a leaf spring 94 attached to the armature 86 by a pair of eyelets 95 passing through suitable openings in the leaf spring 94 which are oversized so that the leaf spring 94 can bow relative to the armature 86 as will be apparent hereinafter.

Another housing member 96 is carried by an upper arm 97 of the bracket means 81 and has a cavity 98 formed therein and receiving a valve seat member 99 that cooperates with an O-ring 100 to seal the cavity 98 above an outwardly directed annular flange 101 of the valve seat member 99 from the exterior of the housing 96. A stepped bore 102 passes through the valve seat member 99 whereby the lower end 103 of the bore 102 is exposed to the atmosphere and the upper end 104 of the bore 102 is in aligned relation with a passage 105 formed in the housing 96 and interconnected to a cross passage 106 formed in the housing 96 and being respectively intermember 111. Similarly, the stepped bore 102 in the valve seat member 99 defines a valve seat 112 adapted to be opened and closed by the ball valve 111.

An actuating rod 13 projects loosely into the end 103 of the stepped bore 102 so as to have its upper end 114 engageable with the ball valve member 111 and its lower end 115 engageable against the leaf spring 94 of the clapper or armature 86.

Thus, when the coil 84 of the particular valve means 47 is deenergized, the tension spring 90 maintains the armature 86 in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 whereby the armature 86, through the push rod 113, maintains the ball valve member 111 away from the valve seat 112 and into sealing engagement with the valve seat 110 so that the cavity 98 is directly interconnected to the atmosphere through the cross recess 109 and open valve seat 112. However, when the coil 84 of the particular valve means 47 is energized by being interconnected to the power source leads L and L by the control device 54, the end 88 of the armature 86 is pulled downwardly in FIG. 7 so that the push rod 113 follows such movement and permits the ball valve member 111 to move away from the valve seat 110 and into sealing engagement with the valve seat 112 whereby the cavity 98 is sealed from the atmosphere and is in fluid communication with the cross passage 106 in the housing means 96.

The cavity 98 of the housing means 96 is always in communication with a passage means 116 which receives a tubular extension nipple 117 that is adapted to be interconnected to the conduit means 49 that leads to the respective actuator 23 for that valve means 47.

As illustrated in FIG. 1. all of the cross passages 106 of the nine vave means 47 are adapted to be interconnected to the pneumatic source 48 by having the nipple extension 107 on the lower valve means 47 of FIG. 1 fluidly interconnected to the pneumatic source 48 by a coupling conduit means 118 and its other nipple extension 108 interconnected to the nipple means 107 of the next adjacent valve means 47 by a coupling conduit means 119. Thus, all of the valve means 47 have the nipple extensions 107 and 108 thereof coupled in series with the uppermost valve means 47 in FIG. 1 having its nipple extension 108 sealed from the atmosphere.

Therefore, in the control system 10 of this invention, when a particular solenoid coil 84 of a particular valve means 47 is energized, the end 88 of the armature clapper 86 thereof is pulled downwardly against the core means and the stem or rod 113 follows such movement and is of sufficient length to permit the ball valve member 111 to seat against the vent valve seat 112 so as to permit pressurized fluid which is supplied through the tubing adaptors 107 or 108 to flow through the passage 106 and opened valve seat 110 to the outlet passage 116 and, thus, to its respective actuator means 23. When that particular solenoid coil 84 is subsequently deenergized, the tension spring snaps the left-hand end 88 of the clapper 86 upwardly so that the stem or rod 113 engages the ball valve member 111 and unseats it from the vent valve seat 112 and forces it against the supply valve seat 110 to close off the supply of air pressure from passage and venting the pressurized air from its interconnected actuator 23 through the open vent valve seat 112 to the atmosphere, such upward snapping movement of the armature 86 permitting the leaf spring 94 to bow and absorb the shock of the valve member 86 striking the stem or rod 113 and its seating action of the ball 111 against the supply valve seat 110.

The operation of the apparatus and control system of this invention will now be described.

With all of the actuators 23 in their deactuated condition, the positioning unit 24 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 whereby the actuating rod 13 of the control device 12 is at one setting thereof. However, should it be desired or determined that the output of the control device 12 should be increased or decreased as the case may be, the control means 54 interconnects the power source leads L to the particular lead 53 of the particular valve means 47 or to several leads 53 of particular valve means 47 as the case may be so that one or more of the valve means 47 will have the coils 84 thereof energized.

Pressurized fluid is then adapted to flow from the source 48 to the respective actuators 23 of the energized valve or valves 47 interconnected therewith. Thus. the pistons 62 of the actuators 23 extend in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 moving the end 25 of the stack 24 upwardly the amount of the actuated piston strokes. The dash-pot cylinder 29 and arm 34 also move up, rotating the lever 37 through the pin 36 in a clockwise direction with the pin 36 sliding on the arm 34. Such clockwise movement of the lever 37 through the linkage 38, 39 and 40 move the indicator 14 in a clockwise direction and the actuating rod 13 in a downward direction so as to change the setting of the control device 12 proportionally to the amount of up movement of the end 25 of the positioning unit 24, the dash-pot means 27 serving as a dampening device so that the set point of the control device 12 is slowly changed eliminating sudden overshoots and jumping of the control device 12.

If the solenoid valves 47 previously energized are now deenergized, pressurized air is vented from the actuated actuators 23 through their respective deenergized solenoid valves 47 permitting the tension spring 44 to return the extended pistons 62 to their originally collapsed conditions so that the cylinder 29 of the dash-pot means 27 moves downwardly permitting the lever 37 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the force of the tension spring 41 and move the set point indicator 14 back to its original position and moving the actuator rod 13 back to its original position so that the control device 12 is set back to its original value.

The rate of action of the positioning unit 24 for changing the setting of the control device 12 is determined by the dash-pot means 27. This rate of movement in the dash-pot means 27 is determined by the viscosity of the fluid in the cylinder 29 and the clearance between the outside diameter of the piston 28 and the inside diameter of the cylinder 29 since the piston 28 is held stationary and the cylinder 29 is moved by spring 44 forcing fluid in the cylinder means 29 past the stationary piston 28.

From the above description, it can be seen that the amount of set point change of the control device 12- is directly proportional to the amount of stroke that the actuators 23 will make when actuated. Therefore, with the nine actuators 23 illustrated, nine different amounts of set point change can be fed into the control device 12. By energizing the solenoid valves in combination and choosing proper strokes for the different actuators 23, almost any set point change to the control device 12' can be achieved. The solenoid valves 47 can be energized by many different devices, such as a computer, tape or card reader, etc.

For example, to lit a computer to the apparatus 10 of this invention, the following description will be based on binary numbering logic although it is to be understood that other logic systems could be used such as decimal, binary decimal, etc.

However, with a binary numbering logic system, the strokes of the nine actuators 23 will be functions of the following binary numbering system: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 which totals to 511. Assuming each number represents 1 F., the system 10 can obtain a 0 F. to 511 F. range change in 1 F. steps by choosing the right combination of actuators 23. For example, 200 F. is achieved by actuating the 128 F., 64 F. and the 8 F. actuators 23 while 199 F. is achieved by actuating the 128 F., 64 F., 4 F., 2 F. and 1 F. actuators 23. Actually, each actuator 23 will make a stroke which is some multiple of the above number to obtain more total travel. In this instance, the actuators 23 can be chosen for stroke travel of 0.0025 of an inch per 1 F. Therefore, the 1 F. actuator 23 makes 0.0025 inch travel; the 2 F. actuator 23 makes 0.005 inch travel; the 4 F. actuator 23 makes 0.010 inch travel; the 8 F. actuator 23 makes 0.020 inch travel; the 16 F. actuator 23 makes 0.040 inch travel; the 32 F. actuator 23 makes 0.080 inch travel; the 64 F. actuator 23 makes 0.160 inch travel; the 128 F. actuator 23 makes 0.320 inch travel; and the 256 F. actuator 23 makes: 0.640 inch travel.

Therefore, for a total of 511 F. span controller, the stack 24 of actuators 23 would have a total travel of 1.2775 inches in 0.0025 inch steps.

Having available a total of 511 F. span controller, each span less than that could be used; for instance, 250 F. say from 50 F. to 300 -F. with 32 F., 16 F., and 2 F. actuators 23 actuated, the set point indicator 14 would be calibrated to read 50 F. T o prevent damaging over travel, stem 31 can be adjusted to bottom out on the inside of the housing or cylinder 29 and serve as a stop for the apparatus 10'.

Therefore, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide an improved pneumatically operated positioning apparatus, but also this invention provides an improved method and control system utilizing such an apparatus or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic digital positioning control system comprising a plurality of pneumatically operated actuators disposed in alignedrelation to provide a linear positioning unit having opposed ends, said actuators each being individually operable to linearly extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby one end of said unit will be correspondingly linearly extended relative to the other end thereof and thereafter be linearly collapsed relative to said other end thereof, a controlled device operatively interconnected to said one end of said positioning unit to be controlled in relation to the position of said one end of said unit relative to said other end thereof, a source of pneumatic fluid, control means for directing said source to at least one of said actuators to extend said one end of said unit by the degree of actuation of said one actuator and for thereafter disconnecting said source from that one actuator to collapse said one end of said unit by the degree of deactuation of said one actuator, and dash-pot means operatively interconnecting said one end of said unit to said controlled device, said dash-pot means comprising a cylinder and piston arrangement with said piston being held stationary and said cylinder being operatively associated with said one end of said unit to move in unison therewith, said cylinder having means operatively interconnected to said controlled device to operate the same in relation to movement of said cylinder relative to said piston.

2. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said actuators comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement.

'3. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said actuators has a linear extension stroke dilferent from the linear extension stroke of another of said actuators.

4. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of separate valve means respectively associated with said plurality of actuators.

5. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim. 4 wherein each valve means has electrically operated means for controlling the same.

6. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said actuators has means for adjusting the length of its fully extended stroke.

7. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 and including means for normally tending to maintain said actuators in their fully collapsed condition.

8. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-named means comprises spring means operatively interconnected to said positioning unit.

9. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of actuators comprises a plurality of separate actuators disposed in aligned and abutting relation.

'10. A pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cylinder of said dash-pot means abuts said one end of said unit to move in unison therewith.

11. Apparatus for positioning a controlled device in various operating positions thereof comprising a plurality of pneumatically operated actuators disposed in aligned relation to provide a linear positioning unit having opposed ends, said actuators each being individually operable to linearly extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby one end of said unit will be correspondingly linearly extended relative to the other end thereof and thereafter be linearly collapsed relative to said other end thereof, said controlled device being operatively interconnected to said one end of said unit relative to said other end thereof, control means for directing a source of pneumatic fiuid to at least one of said actuators to extend said one end of said unit by the degree of actuation of said One actuator and for thereafter disconnecting said source from that one actuator to collapse said one end of said unit by the degree of deactuation of said one actuator, and dash-pot means operatively interconnecting said one end of said unit to said controlled device, said dash-pot means comprising a cylinder and piston arrangement with said piston being held stationary and said cylinder being operatively associated with said one end of said unit to move in unison therewith, said cylinder having means operatively interconnected to said controlled device to operate the same in relation to movement of said cylinder relative to said piston.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said actuators comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of said actuators has a linear extension stroke different from the linear extension stroke of another of said actuators.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of separate valve means respectively associated with said plurality of actuators.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each valve means has electrically operated means for controlling the same.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of said actuators has means for adjusting the length of its fully extended stroke.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 and including means for normally tending to maintain said actuators in their fully collapsed condition.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said 10 last-named means comprises spring means operatively interconnected to said positioning unit.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plurality of actuators comprising a plurality of separate actuators disposed in aligned and abutting relation.

.20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said cylinder of said dash-pot means abuts said one end of said unit to move in unison therewith.

21. A method for controlling a controlled device comprising the steps of disposing a plurality of pneumatically operated actuators in aligned relation to provide a linear positioning unit having opposed ends with each actuator being individually operable to linearly extend itself when actuated and thereafter to linearly collapse itself when deactuated whereby one end of said unit will be correspondingly linearly extended relative to the other end thereof and thereafter be linearly collapsed relative to said other end thereof, operatively interconnecting said controlled device to said one end of said positioning unit so that said controlled device will be controlled in relation to the position of said one end of said unit relative to said other end thereof, and interconnecting a source of pneumatic fluid by control means to at least one of said actuators to extend said one end of said unit by the degree of actuation of said one actuator and thereby adjust said controlled device to a different operating condition thereof, said step of operatively interconnecting said controlled device to said one end of said unit comprising the step of operatively interconnecting said controlled device to said one end of said unit by a piston and cylinder dash-pot arrangement wherein said piston is held stationary and said cylinder moves in unison with said one end of said unit and is operatively associated with said controlled device so that said controlled device is operated in relation to movement of said cylinder relative to said piston.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21 and including the step of adjusting the length of the fully extended stroke of at least one of said actuators.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21 and including the step of normally biasing said actuators to their fully collapsed conditions.

24. A method as set forth in claim 21 and including the steps of forming said actuators from a plurality of separate actuators and disposing the same in aligned and abutting relation.

25. A method as set forth in claim 21 and including the step of providing at least one actuator with a linear extension stroke different from the linear extension stroke of another of said actuators.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,831,464 4/1958 Lillquist 91-467 2,969,042 1/1961 Litz et al. 9l167 3,017,865 1/1962 Frantz et al. 929 3,072,146 1/1963 Gizeski 91--167 3,130,549 4/1964 Freeman 9l167 3,307,584 3/1967 Czernek 91167 PAUL E. MASLOUSKY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

